Cahermackeirilla

In an area of reclaimed pastureland but surrounded by a patch of scrub from SW to NE; there is a farmhouse and yard immediately to the SE. Hachured on the 1842 and 1920 eds. of the OS 6-inch map, with the label ‘Cahermackirilla’ on the latter, and ‘Cathair Mhic Oirialla (?)’ on Robinson’s map (1977). This large subcircular cashel (ext. dims. 46m E–W; 44.6m N–S) is defined by a double-faced stone wall (Wth 3.7–4.4m; int. H 0.86–2m; ext. H 0.5–2.6m) which is widest and highest at S. Its outer wall-face here has a batter and at least two vertical wall joints (4m apart) are visible. A later drystone wall (L 11.5m) is built over the outer wall-face from WSW to SW. The poorly preserved entrance at ESE widens from the interior (Wth 2m) to the exterior (Wth 2.5m) but this is probably the result of later alteration or deterioration. This is supported by Westropp’s (1898, 364) description, where he notes that the sides of the entrance passage (Wth 2.4m) were parallel rather than stepped and lined with large stones. Three steps (Wth 0.4m) are visible in the inner wall-face at S. Extensive quarrying has occured in the grass-covered interior, most clearly in a rectangular area (15m E–W; 13m N–S) at S that is partly lined by a drystone wall. Spoil mounds and trails are visible in the W and N sectors. Westropp (ibid.) recorded modern houses and garden plots within the interior, as well as a rock cleft modified as a drain. Grass-covered stone walls abutting the wall at E, SSW and NNW may be the remains of associated field boundaries. Another cashel (CL009-053004-) lies c. 232m to NNE. Compiled by: Olive Alcock and Conn Herriott Date of upload: 3 February 2022

Cahermackeirilla is a circular earthen ringfort, likely dating to the early medieval period, used as a defensive or agricultural settlement. It is associated with local folklore surrounding fairy dwellings, as suggested by the "Caher-" prefix, a common Irish term for a fairy fort.